A77844:50
The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the…The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the…
The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the election of the Lord Major. / By Anthony Burgess, sometimes fellow of Immanuel College in Cambridge; now pastor of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick shire, and a member of the Assembly. Imprimatur Thomas Gataker.The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the election of the Lord Major. / By Anthony Burgesse, sometimes fellow of Immanuel Colledge in Cambridge; now pastour of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick shire, and a member of the Assembly. Imprimatur Thomas Gataker.
London: printed by George Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1644London: printed by George Miller for Thomas Vnderhill, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In the third place: As they ought to be of a public spirit; so,much in prayer unto God, that they may be conducted in this way: for certainly, when you are put into an office, into a government, you do (as it were) set to sea in the midst of a storm, and of a tempest: and therefore how much need have you to pray to God, that the tempest and storm may be allayed: Ulysses would not go to sea till he had gotten all the winds in his vessel, that so he need not care for a tempest: and so thou that art to enter on an office, or a government, do not do it till thou hast prevailed with God by prayer; and be much seeking of him, that he might give thee wisdom; You see Solomon did it, he begged of God, that God would give him wisdom to go in and out before the people: and certainly, a great deal of reason there is, why they that are Governors should beg wisdom of God, if you consider but, how hard a thing it is, to judge of men that are of various dispositions, and various judgements, nullum animal est majori arte tractandum, (says he) there is no creature in the world that is to be handled with more art, then man is: And Father Nazianzen, he cries out, ars artium est, & scientia scientiarum, &c. it is an art of all arts, and a knowledge of all knowledges, to be able to govern a man: he is the most various, and the most uncertainest of all things in the world, and therefore he ought to be much in prayer to God.
In the third place: As they ought to be of a publique spirit; so,much in prayer unto God, that they may be conducted in this way: for certainely, when you are put into an office, into a government, you doe (as it were) set to sea in the midst of a storme, and of a tempest: and therefore how much need have you to pray to God, that the tempest and storme may be allayed: Ʋlisses would not goe to sea till he had gotten all the winds in his vessell, that so he need not care for a tempest: and so thou that art to enter on an office, or a government, doe not doe it till thou hast prevailed with God by prayer; and be much seeking of him, that he might give thee wisedome; You see Solomon did it, he begged of God, that God would give him wisedome to goe in and out before the people: and certainely, a great deale of reason there is, why they that are Governours should beg wisedome of God, if you consider but, how hard a thing it is, to judge of men that are of various dispositions, and various judgements, nullum animal est majori arte tractandum, (sayes he) there is no creature in the world that is to be handled with more art, then man is: And Father Nazianzen, he cries out, ars artium est, & scientia scientiarum, &c. it is an art of all arts, and a knowledge of all knowledges, to be able to governe a man: he is the most various, and the most uncertainest of all things in the world, and therefore he ought to be much in prayer to God.